JP2778462B2 - Water regeneration control method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a regeneration control method and apparatus for a water softener for ion-exchanging raw water containing hardness into soft water.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a water softener obtains softened water by removing hardness contained in raw water.
Generally, an ion exchange resin is used. In such a water softener, the total removal amount of the hardness is a certain amount determined by the type and amount of the ion exchange resin (generally, this amount is referred to as resin capacity). Therefore,
If the water softening treatment is continued with the water softener, the hardness cannot be finally removed. Therefore, before that, it is necessary to recover the resin capacity by applying salt water (generally referred to as regeneration). is there. In addition, during the period up to the regeneration operation, the total amount of the hardness removed by the water softener is estimated from the usage period or the integrated amount of raw water flow, and the estimated value is set to be equal to or less than the resin capacity. .

In recent years, automatic water softeners configured to alternately repeat the water softening treatment of the raw water and the regeneration treatment of the ion exchange resin as described above have been frequently used. , A processing container containing an ion exchange resin, a control valve for automatically switching a flow path for water softening treatment and regeneration treatment, and a salt water tank for storing salt water for ion exchange resin regeneration are provided. At the time of regeneration, the control valve switches and connects to the flow path at the time of regeneration, and the ejector incorporated in the control valve uses the fluid pressure of the raw water to introduce the salt water for regeneration from the salt water tank into the treatment vessel. I have. Further, this type of water softener has a water replenishment step for producing salt water for regeneration. In this step, raw water is supplied to a predetermined water level in a salt water tank (water replenishment) and a large amount of water is previously supplied. Concrete brine substantially saturated concentration by dissolving the inserted reproduced salt
I am.

[0004]

In this type of water softener, the amount of salt water introduced and the amount of water replenishment are controlled by:
By incorporating a timer function into the control valve,
Alternatively, by introducing a timer function by providing a control valve separately from the control valve, the salt water introduction operation and the water replenishment operation are respectively performed for a predetermined time. In addition, there is also one that controls the amount of salt water introduced and the amount of water replenishment by providing a water level detector in the salt water tank for regeneration.In this type of water softener, if the water level detector fails, By performing each operation for a predetermined time by the timer as described above,
The amount of salt water introduced and the amount of rehydration are controlled.

In these water softeners, the ejector uses the fluid pressure of raw water. If the raw water pressure is low, salt water cannot be introduced. Therefore, a pressure switch is provided in the raw water line to minimize the raw water pressure. It is configured to judge only whether the pressure is necessary or not, and if the raw water pressure is low, do not shift to the regenerating operation, enter a standby state to wait for the recovery of the raw water pressure, and notify this state. .

[0006] Even if the raw water exceeds the minimum required pressure value, if the required amount of water is not sucked in during the fixed operation time set in the timer, or if the raw water is too high, salt water is introduced more than necessary. Therefore, the consumption of salt may increase, and there is a possibility that water may be replenished more than necessary and overflow from the salt water tank.
In particular, the overflow pipe is often not connected to the salt water tank, and there is a concern that the salt water may spread to the surroundings.

That is, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to control the amount of water introduced into the treatment container and the amount of water replenishment by a timer, and to shift to the regeneration operation when the water level detector in the salt water tank fails. In the case where the timer controls the amount of salt water introduced into the treatment container and the amount of water replenishment by the timer, the amount of salt water introduced and the amount of water replenishment can be optimally controlled regardless of fluctuations in the supply pressure of raw water. to provide a water softener regeneration control how.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention controls the amount of salt water introduced into a treatment vessel and the amount of water replenishment using a timer. The operation of regenerating the water softener, in particular, the introduction of a predetermined amount of salt water into the treatment vessel, and the replenishment of a specified amount of raw water into the salt water tank, as a control method, The feed pressure of raw water is detected, and the introduction time of salt water and the rehydration operation time are appropriately changed according to the detected value of the feed pressure of raw water .

[0009]

According to the regeneration control method for a water softener according to the present invention, the supply pressure of raw water is detected, and the introduction time of salt water and the water replenishment operation time are appropriately changed according to the detected value of the supply pressure of raw water. This ensures that a predetermined amount of salt water is introduced into the treatment vessel (11) irrespective of fluctuations in the supply pressure of raw water, and a specified amount of raw water is refilled into the salt water tank (13) .

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the ordinary water softening operation of the water softener and the configuration related to the regeneration operation are omitted, and only the basic configuration necessary for describing the present invention is illustrated. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing one embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a water softener (10) provided with a regeneration control device according to the present invention comprises a processing vessel (11) containing an ion exchange resin, and a water softening treatment operation of the water softener (10). A control valve (12) for switching a regeneration operation, a salt water tank (13) storing salt water for regeneration, and a control valve (12) determined by a signal from various detectors and a built-in timer as described later. Control device that switches to the operating state
(20).

In this embodiment, the control valve (12) is assembled on the upper part of the processing vessel (11), and each flow path inside the water softener (10) and the water softener (10) are controlled by the control device (20). ), A raw water line (1) for supplying raw water to a water softener, a treated water line (2) for supplying a treated liquid after water softening to a subsequent demand point, and a salt water. Tank (1
The water softener is extended from 3) and selectively switches between a salt water line (14) for introducing and replenishing salt water and a drain discharge line (3) for draining water from the processing vessel during regeneration.
It is configured to switch between the water softening treatment operation and the regeneration operation of (10). Also, in this control valve (12),
As described above, an ejector (not shown) is incorporated, and raw water from the raw water line (1) flows into the treatment vessel (11), and is sucked by the action of the ejector to form a salt water line.
(14) through the treatment tank for the salt water for regeneration in the salt water tank (13)
(11). After the resin capacity in the processing vessel (11) is regenerated, the resin is discharged from the drain discharge line (3) to the outside of the system. During rehydration, the control valve (1
By the switching operation of the flow path according to 2), the raw water from the raw water line (1) flows into the salt water tank (13) via the salt water line (14).

The inside of the salt water tank (13) is partitioned by a partition member (15) capable of holding a salt for regeneration ( 16 ) without obstructing the flow of water such as a net or a perforated plate. On the member (15), a salt for regeneration (generally, an appropriate-sized lump) ( 16 ) is supplied. The regenerating salt ( 16 ) supplied in a state of being held on the partition member (15) is supplied with raw water via the salt water line (14) after regeneration of the ion-exchange resin. ) Resolves in raw water by replenishing water to a higher level, and produces salt water of specified concentration.

Further, the raw water line (1) is provided with a pressure detector (21) for detecting a supply pressure of the raw water, and the pressure detector (21) uses the supply pressure of the raw water as a continuous amount. It detects and outputs the detected value to the control device (20). The pressure detector (21) preferably detects pressure as a continuous amount in an analog manner, but in addition to detecting pressure as a continuous amount, the detection range is divided into a plurality of ranges at appropriate intervals. Alternatively, detection may be performed stepwise for each range.

As is well known, the control device (20) includes various detectors, for example, a flow rate detector for detecting a flow rate of raw water (or treated water), and a water level in the salt water tank (13). The operation status of the water softener is grasped from various detectors such as a water level detector (17) for detecting the water level, the control valve (12) is switched to a predetermined operation state, and a value set in a built-in timer (not shown) is used. Control is performed so as to maintain various operating conditions of the water softener for a predetermined time. And this control device (20), at the time of salt water introduction operation, and at the time of raw water replenishment operation,
As described above, the control valve (12) is controlled by the timer so that each of the above operations is performed for a predetermined time. Further, as in the illustrated embodiment, a water level detector (17) is provided in the salt water tank (13), and salt water introduction is performed based on a detection signal of the water level in the salt water tank (13) from the water level detector (17). In the case where the water level detector is broken down, when the water level detector fails, each operation is performed for a predetermined time by the timer in the same manner as described above, whereby the salt water introduction amount and the water replenishment amount are controlled. Is controlling.

According to the present invention, the supply pressure of raw water is detected, the flow rate of intake of salt water by the ejector and the flow rate of water replenishment at the time of water replenishment are determined from the detected values. The control device (20) has the following arithmetic processing function. That is, this control device (2
0) receives the supply pressure of the raw water in the raw water line (1) as a detection signal from the pressure detector (21), and based on the detection signal, the suction flow rate of salt water correlated with the raw water pressure and the rehydration. From the water replenishment flow rate at the time, each operation time until the prescribed saline water suction amount and the water replenishment amount during water replenishment are determined. That is, if the supply pressure of the raw water detected by the pressure detector is high, each operation time is shortened, and conversely, if the supply pressure is low, each operation time is obtained by calculation so that each operation time is long. Then, the determined operation times are output as control signals to the control valve (12).

The control valve (12), which receives control signals for the salt water suction operation and the water replenishing operation from the control device (20), controls the control device (20)
After performing the suction operation and the water replenishing operation of the salt water for the time determined by the above, the specified amount of the salt water is introduced into the treatment vessel (11) to perform the regeneration, and then the specified amount of the raw water is refilled into the salt water tank.

The control device (20) of this embodiment sets each time of the salt water introduction and the water replenishment operation according to the raw water pressure detected by the pressure detector (21). It is also determined whether the pressure is the minimum necessary pressure at which the salt water can be sucked by the ejector in the control valve (12) .If the raw water pressure is low, the process does not shift to the regeneration operation, and the recovery of the raw water pressure is waited. While waiting for
It is preferable to configure to notify this state.

In the above embodiment, the salt water tank is used.
The control valve (12) of the water softener (10) is controlled to control the supply amount of salt water from (13) and the replenishment amount of raw water to the salt water tank (13) by switching each state. However, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
During the salt water supply operation and water replenishment operation of the water softener, the control valve (18) is connected during the operation, and the set value of the salt water introduction time and the water replenishment time obtained by the arithmetic processing function incorporated in the control device (20). The control valve (18) may be configured to open and close the control valve (18) on the basis of a predetermined amount of salt water into the treatment container (11), and replenish the specified amount of raw water into the salt water tank. . In such a configuration, the function of the present invention can be easily added to a conventional existing water softener without changing the structure of the control valve (12). , The effect can be enjoyed.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the control device
Although the arithmetic processing function is incorporated in (20), the arithmetic processing function related to the regeneration control is determined by a separately provided arithmetic processor to determine the intake flow rate of salt water and the flow rate of water replacement at the time of water replacement, or A set value of the salt water introduction time and the water replenishment time based on the determination result may be output to the control device (20), and in this case, the control valve (12) or the control valve may be configured based on a calculation processing result. (18) is configured to be controlled directly or indirectly via the control device (20). Even in the case of such a configuration, the function of the present invention can be easily added to a conventional existing water softener, and the effect can be enjoyed, because it can be easily attached to an existing water softener.

[0021]

The present invention has the above configuration,
Even if the supply pressure of the raw water fluctuates in the case where the supply of the salt water from the salt water tank to the treatment container and the subsequent replenishment of the raw water to the salt water tank are performed by a timer operation, the fluctuation of the supply pressure is detected. was monitored by vessel, by adjusting to the appropriate operation time, it is possible to perform appropriate salt introduction and rehydration.

Therefore, a predetermined amount of salt water is always supplied and replenished, and a predetermined amount of salt water for regeneration is reliably introduced into the treatment vessel, and a predetermined amount of salt water for regeneration can be secured. This makes it possible to control the water regeneration of a very safe water softener that does not cause a poor regeneration and does not leak the hardness, and can supply soft water stably to the downstream side.

[0023] In addition, since water can be reliably replenished in a specified amount with respect to the water replenishment operation, even if the drain pipe is not provided, the salt water leaks out to the surroundings, thereby contaminating the floor surface and corroding other equipment. The inconvenience of rubbing can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Raw water line (2) Treated water line (10) Water softener (11) Treatment vessel (12) Control valve (13) Brine tank (14) Brine line (20) Controller (21) Pressure detector

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References: Jikken Hei 3-46836 (JP, Y2) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B01J 49/00 C02F 1/42

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A processing container (11) containing an ion exchange resin.
Hard water in the raw water is removed by passing the raw water through the tank, and when the capacity of the ion exchange resin is reduced, the salt water tank (13)
The supply pressure of raw water is detected in the regeneration control method of the water softener that introduces salt water into the treatment vessel (11) using the fluid pressure of the raw water to regenerate the capacity of the ion exchange resin. Then, according to the detected value of the supply pressure of the raw water,
A method for controlling regeneration of a water softener, wherein the introduction time of salt water is appropriately changed. 2. A processing container (11) containing an ion exchange resin.
Hard water in the raw water is removed by passing the raw water through the tank, and when the capacity of the ion exchange resin is reduced, the salt water tank (13)
After regenerating the capacity of the ion-exchange resin by introducing the salt water in the treatment vessel (11) using the fluid pressure of the raw water, the salt water is consumed in the salt water tank (13) that has consumed the salt water to generate a predetermined amount of salt water. In the regeneration control method of the water softener for replenishing the raw water, the water supply pressure is detected, and the water replenishment operation time is appropriately changed according to the detected value of the raw water supply pressure. Playback control method.